The Hawks, South Africa’s priority crime unit, confirmed they were searching the Gupta’s walled compound near Johannesburg zoo on Wednesday morning.

They have also carried out raids on other properties.

According to the statement released to South African media, the raids were carried out in connection with the Vrede farm investigation.

That particular investigation relates to the Estina dairy farm near Vrede, in the Free State, a project which was originally meant to help poor black farmers but from which the Gupta family are alleged to have pocketed millions of dollars.

Why is President Zuma under pressure?

The scandal-hit leader has been in power since 2009, but has been dogged by corruption allegations.

Mr Zuma was replaced as the party’s leader in December by his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, but has so far resisted calls to resign.

An official has said the 75-year-old was willing to stand down in the next three to six months, but top leadership want him to withdraw from power immediately.

What is the scandal between the family and the president?

Former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas made a public allegation in 2016 that he was offered 600m Rand ($50m; £36m) by the Gupta family to be the next finance minister – as long as he did their bidding.

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